As a property owner, you are responsible for the individuals who live on your rental property. As such, it is important to screen each prospective tenant carefully and come up with a lease agreement that clearly defines the difference between a resident and a guest. However, if the status of a guest moves from temporary visitor to long-term occupant, this situation could become a problem.
Distinction Between Tenant and Guest
As you likely already know, a tenant is the individual or individuals who live on the property and pay the rent. These are the individuals to whom you are leasing the property, the name, or names, on the lease, and those obligated to uphold the rules as outlined in the lease. The obligations include timely payment of rent, being compliant with the laws, and caring for the property in an appropriate manner.
A guest is an individual who occasionally visits and perhaps stays overnight a few times during a particular period. Guests are not listed on the lease and usually have no responsibility for rent payment or upholding lease obligations.
Additionally, if the property has been unoccupied for an expected period, there could be a risk of squatters and other unwanted guests living on your property. Because of this, it could be beneficial to check on your property regularly, particularly if it is vacant. If you are an absentee landlord, you can hire a property management company to not only check up on the well-being of your property but also to find new tenants to occupy it.
Creating a Guest Policy for Your Rental Property
To better safeguard yourself against guests whose statuses turn into tenants without you knowing, have a tenant/guest policy drawn up in the lease agreement. This should include the type of guests allowed on the property and the maximum number of residents that should be in the space. The lease should stipulate that no one is authorized to take up residence in the space as a tenant without expressed consent from you or your property manager. This should also include a stipulation against using the space as an Airbnb or subletting the space to anyone.
Clearly state the number of nights a guest is permitted to stay on property within a specified period and how many guests can be there at the same time. Depending on the neighborhood in which your property is located, you may want to establish “quiet hours,” to prevent loud parties or misbehavior during a certain time. In addition, you should make sure that your tenants are aware of how issues with guests will be handled. These should include those who violate the lease agreement.
It can be a challenge to handle this type of situation. Specialized Property Management Dallas can assist you in creating and strengthening your lease agreement or going over the guest policy with prospective tenants. Additionally, we can perform regular inspections to ensure that protocols are being followed and no prohibited person is living in the space. For more information on how we can help your property thrive, call us at 214-233-7572 or contact us online.
